Brian Ortega celebrates after beating Michael De La Torre by submission during the first round of a featherweight mixed martial arts bout at a UFC on Fox event in San Jose, Calif., Saturday, July 26, 2014. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

While it’s easy to resurface in the Pacific Ocean, doing so in the Octagon under the weight of the barbs of social media is no simple task.

Ortega brings an unbeaten record into Saturday’s main-card bout against Diego Brandao at UFC 195 in Las Vegas, yet he carries a burden no one but him can shoulder.

Next to his perfect 9-0 record, it reads “1 NC.” It stands for “one no contest,” the result of a personal decision he’ll forever regret.

And he proved to all MMA fans — supporters, doubters and haters alike — he belongs in the UFC.

Now Ortega, 24, is out to prove to himself he belongs among the top featherweights.

“I take the toughest one out of all the names they give me and I pick up the toughest one,” the Carson native said. “And that’s just because I have good coaches, I have a good training camp and I have the best partners.

“And ultimately, I’m here to fight the best. I’m not here to stay in and get a couple paychecks. I’m here to do my best while I can and while I’m fresh and make a name for myself.”

In Brandao (24-10), he’s facing an aggressive foe with a thunderous overhand right who rose to fame by dominating and winning Season 14 of “The Ultimate Fighter” in 2011.

Ortega, who had just won the RFA title before getting signed by the UFC, was supposed to make his UFC debut against Brandao in Brazil in May 2014, but Brandao got injured and the fight was called off.

Instead, he took on Mike De La Torre in July. It took him only 1 minute, 39 seconds to force a tapout due to a rear-naked choke.

An opponent vanquished, a dream realized, an accomplishment met.

Four weeks later, it was all taken away. Ultimately by Ortega himself.

The California State Athletic Commission notified him he had tested positive for drostanolone, an anabolic steroid. His victory was overturned and he was suspended nine months and forced to pay a $2,500 fine.

“It changed everything about me,” Ortega said.

He had put his trust in someone who assured him the steroid was safe and undetectable. He was told it was the nature of the game.

Ortega had kept it from his manager and coaches, but now the secret had blown up in his face.

Ortega holed up at home for two weeks. Taunts and threats came at him from all directions.

He was told to kill himself. He was told his family deserved to die.

Finally, longtime mentor and striking coach James Luhrsen, with whom Ortega has spent nearly every day since he was 18, paid a visit.

His message: “Get your head out of the sand and let’s do this, man. Let’s do this the right way and let’s go.”

Ortega dove into his training. He changed his diet, determined to get closer to his 145-pound fighting weight. No more walking around at 170 or 175 pounds. He spent hours in the gym and continued teaching at the Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Academy in Torrance.

Once his suspension ended, the UFC came calling with a fight, but on three weeks’ notice against Brazilian veteran Thiago Tavares.

Everyone knew it was little time to prepare for a dangerous opponent, but Ed Soares, the RFA president who is also Ortega’s manager, was confident.

“He’s got that ‘it’ factor. He’s a got a little special something that not everybody has,” said Soares, who counts former champions Anderson Silva, Lyoto Machida and Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira among the many fighters he represents.

In June on Fox Sports 1, Ortega and Tavares won Fight of the Night honors for a battle considered one of the best in 2015.

Whenever Tavares took Ortega down, he was met by submission attempts and vicious elbows.

In the end, Ortega had sliced Tavares open with two wicked cuts on his forehead. In a bloodbath, Ortega outlasted a tiring Tavares, flooring and finishing him with big punches at 4:10 of the third round.

Said Ortega: “I felt like that was my calling. It was a good fight and proved to the world I’m not what the Internet says I am.”

Now comes another dangerous Brazilian, but at least Ortega has had a full camp.

His weight is on point. His mind is right.

“This camp is probably the most relaxed camp we’ve been at,” Luhrsen said. “I think Brian’s focused, pretty much has his cardio. He’s got it going on right now, so I think he’ll do well.”

Soares, who met Ortega through Luhrsen feels a personal connection to Ortega. He knows that might not be smart from a business standpoint, but he refers to Ortega as like he’s a younger brother or his son.

“I really believe in Brian. I think Brian is gonna be a champion,” the Redondo Beach resident said. “I think the South Bay should be very proud of him, to have a kid born and raised in the South Bay and has his roots there.

“And I’m gonna tell you, people that don’t know about Brian Ortega, sooner or later they’re gonna know about him and that’s what makes me happy. I want to see this kid succeed.”

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